Nan's Calendar

by Nan Forehand, Statesville, NC
Feb. 21, 2012

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 and verse 13
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, It is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails..... And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

My brother, Woody and I met for the first time in our lives four years ago. God gave us a very precious gift of these four years together. Ours is a beautiful love story that knows no end. Woody peacefully went home to be with the Lord this morning, February 21, 2012. He was 71 years of age. He died on my only son's 20th birthday. Woody and John share a lot in common. Yes, they will always share a very special date, a date to celebrate life. Both, men of integrity, honor, and with much love for family, love of our beloved America, and love of mankind. I am so proud of them both; so proud to be Woody's only sister and so proud to be John's Mama.
Words are so inadequate at this moment to express all the love in my heart. It is filled to overflowing with gratitude for the time we had together. I'm so thankful Woody received me with open arms when we met for the first time. I'm so thankful to God, our Father, who kept us both alive long enough to be united and to get to know each other. I am so thankful God blessed me with a wonderful son and a wonderful husband. Allen was the one who, in January 2008, discovered the details of the whereabouts of Woody, Lin and Gene (brothers, also, whom I love very much), and our niece, Michelle (daughter of Del, Woody's twin brother, our brother.) I am thankful for the love of their wives, Judy, Woody's wife, Jeannie, (who passed away October 2010) Lin's wife, and Marie, Gene's wife. I grew up knowing I had four older brothers somewhere on the face of the earth. I knew their names, and that was about all I knew. They never knew they had a sister until Allen's discovery and until I made personal contact with them, telling them I'm their sister. This is a loving tribute and celebration of Woody's life. It is a loving tribute to my precious son, John.
I'll love you both forever and always. Nancy/Mama